A scintillating display saw Slimbridge recover from going down to an early goal,  with some of the best football I have ever seen them play in my 20 year involvement with the club. The thoroughly deserved win, combined with Tuffley's defeat of Droitwich, sees them able to approach the last critical weeks of the season with a huge amount of confidence as they push for promotion. 

With Keeper Steve Sarkodie suspended for the day following his dismissal last weekend against Droitwich Spa, all eyes were on Alex Hammond who was drafted in from Hartpury and proved himself more than up to task of dealing with teammates he had only had a day to prepare for, making two critical saves at important times.

The two sides exchanged early chances, with Mircea Ilea driving the ball too high for the home side before, Jack Smith and Shiyak Sutherland worked an opening for Sutherland, who saw his effort saved by Mangos Keeper Josh Dempsey. 

But with only five minutes on the clock, the hosts took the lead - Harry Simons kept driving forward forward as the Swans back line dropped off him, and drilled the ball past Hammond to put the home side ahead from the edge of the Slimbridge box. 

The chances continued to come at both ends - Sutherland's cross found no-one on the other end as Slimbridge pressed, and a run and shot from Ethan Vaughan brought a superb save from Hammond, pushing the ball behind for a Mangotsfield corner that was cleared.

Slimbridge began to calm down and start playing football to feet, and the results were almost immediate - Joey Shutt set up Jack W Smith whose effort was just wide, before Sutherland and Jack Smith set up a chance for Joe Stokes, who was off target with his effort. 

Three minutes later though, Slimbridge were level - some superb interplay between Sutherland and Jack W Smith saw Smith played through on goal, and he lifted the ball over Dempsey to level things up. 

A minute later, they were ahead - Sutherland's diagonal ball found Stokes, who set up Jack W Smith on the Swans right flank. His dangerous cross was converted by the incoming Joe Shutt to put the Swans ahead. 

Two minutes after that, the third goal in a devastating four minute spell arrived, when Kian Kang was fouled 30 yards outside of the Mangotsfield goal, and Stokes' Free Kick evaded the wall and nestled in the bottom corner past the helpless Dempsey, who stood no chance with his effort. 

Hammond was called into action again on the half hour mark, but made another good point blank save from Brandon Bak to maintain the Slimbridge lead, which they held to the break. 

The second half started in a very similar fashion to the first - five minutes in, Mangotsfield got their second - Vaughan's shot was parried out by Hammond, with Lewis Powell converting the rebound. After a long conversation with his linesman who had the offside flag raised, Referee Rory Peacey awarded the goal. 

But as before, Slimbridge steadied themselves, started playing balls to feet and went on a devastating scoring spree. 

Sutherland's run and shot was off target, and Owen Giles had an effort saved by Dempsey before the next goal arrived. 

Stokes and Jack W Smith worked some lovely touches before playing in Sutherland, whose effort gave Dempsey no chance. 

Four minutes later, another magnificent move saw Olly Sully play in Jack W Smith, and although it looked like his dangerous cross had gone too far for Shutt, he gathered and slid the ball past Dempsey for the Swans fifth. 

Still the chances came. Shutt tried a long range effort to try and record his hat trick which was saved, before a power drive from Sully was just too high. 

On 72 minutes, more lovely work from Sully and Jack W Smith saw Smith's effort saved, and Owen Giles was just wide with his header from the resulting corner. 

With 13 minutes left, it was six as Giles was left unmarked to slot home Stokes’ corner, and with five minutes left, Stokes and Shutt set up Sully, whose take down and finish was of the highest quality to record the Slimbridge seventh. 

There was still time for Tris Haswell to see his effort cannon back into play off the Mangotsfield crossbar in stoppage time, but the final whistle brought an end to a very productive afternoon for Slimbridge, who are back at Thornhill Park on Tuesday (7.45pm) when they entertain Highworth Town, before they travel to Thornbury Town next Saturday (21st March, 3.00pm) for two more crucial League fixtures. 

Team: Hammond, Mara, Mathews (Rodgers 54), Kang (Soule 45), Giles, Ponting (Bell 73), Shutt, Stokes, Jack Smith (Sully 45), Jack W Smith, Sutherland (Haswell 68)

Goals: Jack W Smith 17, Shutt 18, 63, Stokes 21, Sutherland 59, Giles 77, Sully 84

Supporters Club Man of the Match: Joey Shutt

Last night the Under 18's side fell to a 4-3 penalty kick defeat at Meadow Park where they faced Gloucester City in the Semi-Final of the Severn Sport Shield after the game finished 3-3 after 90 minutes.

The Swans goals were scored by Fin Hopkins, Josh Barclay and Joe Rowsell. 

The 18s are back at Thornhill Park on Friday (20th, 7.30pm), when they entertain Longlevens in the Semi Final of the HFA Giantkillers Cup, hoping to reach the Final which is scheduled to be hosted at Hereford's Edgar Street ground.